[albertGQ]

Hello everybody. I didn't want to make a thread for this announcement because I didn't really want to draw attention onto myself, but I am going to need some CP advice on this one. My girlfriend and I just had a baby boy last Monday and we want to maximize how much money we can receive from the government. First off, we are both classified as "single" since we do not live with eachother (we both own our own homes). Since she is considered "single", does she qualify for more gov't cash?

From what I google'd, every baby born in Alberta after 2005 will get $500 put into their RESP. So I know I'll have to open up an RESP for my son. Once this is opened, will the AB gov't automatically do this or will I have to apply for this once the RESP is in place?

I'm also a little confused about the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the National Child Benefit. What is the difference? Can we get both? I'm guessing that the CCTB is the basic that most parent(s) qualify for and the NCB is additional money for low-income families. Is this something we can apply online for?

And the last one I know of is the Universal Child Care benefit. This is the $100 a month that was recently passed that goes to all kids under six years of age. Is this given automatically? I remember hearing something like that. Or is this another program we'd have to apply for?

What I have no clue about is the Child Care Expense Deduction and the new Child Tax Credit announced in Budget 2007. If anyone knows much about these two programs, that would be awesome.

I think I know the jist of the RESP programs so I don't need too much clarification about that, but if there are other programs geared for childrens' education that is not so commonly known, information regarding that would be greatly appreciated